West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-04-08
WHAT ARE RICHES.

WHAT ARE RICHES.
William L. Marcy, the able Secre-
tary of State under President Pierce,
used to enjoy giving the following
forcible illustration of what consti-
tutes riches:
ITO be rich" said Mr.. Marcy,
"requires only satisfactory condl-
tion of mind. One man may be rich
with hundred dollars, while an
other, in possession Of millions, may
think himself poor; and as the ne
cessities of life are enjoyed by each,
it is evident the man who is the best
satisfied with his possessions is the
richer" "
To illustrate this idea, Mr.. Marcy
related the following anecdote:
"While / was governor of the
State of New York." said he, 81 was
called upon one morning at my office
by rough specimen of a back
woodsman, who stalked in and began
the conversation by inquiring if
this was Mr.. Marcy?" "
sI replied that was my name.
"'Rill Marcy said he. I nodded
assent.
used to live in Southport, didn't
YEP
81 answered in the affirmative,
and began to feel little curious to
know who my visitor was, and what
he was driving at.
That's what l told EN- cried
the backwoodsman, bringing his
hand down on his thigh with tre-
mendous force; 4 told 'em you was
the same old Bill Marcy who used
to live in Southport, but they would
not believe it, and promised the
next time | came to Albany to come
and see you and find out for sartin,
Why, you know me don't you, Bill?
II didn't exactly like to ignore his
acquaintance altogether, but for the
Slife Of me / couldn't recollect ever
having seen him before; and so L
replied that he had q familiar coun-
tenance, but that was unable to
call him by name.
"'My name is Jack Smith, an
swered the backwoodsman, 'and we
used to 90 to school together thirty
years ago. in the little red school
house in old Southport. Well, times
has changed since then; and you
have become great man, and got
rich, / suppose?' ..ia
Il shook my head, and was going
to contradict that impression, when
he broke in:
ooh! yes you are; know you are
rich! no use denying it. You were
comptroller for-for long time and
the next we heard of you you were
governor. You must have made a
heap of money, and am glad of it;
glad to see you getting along so
smart. You was always a smart
lad at school, and knew You would
come to something.
81 thanked him for his good
wishes and opinion, but told him
that political life did not pay so well
as he imagined. i suppose said |,
fortune has smiled upon you since
YOU left Southport
"'Oh, yes said he; i hain't got
nothing to complain OF. / must say
w got along right smart. You see,
shortly after you left Southport our
whole family moved up into Yer
mont and put right into the woods,
and / reckon our family cut down
more trees and cleared more land
than any other in the whole State
land so you have made a good
thing of it? How much do you CON
slider yourself worth: | asked, feel
ing little CURIOUS to know what ne
considered fortune, as he seemed
to be so well satisfied with his.
We'll he replied, i don't know
exactly how much i am worth; but
l think'-straightening himself up
.-'if all my debts were paid | should
be worth three hundred dollars clean
cash. And he was rich, for he was
satisfied